CEED 2019 Topper Interview: AIR 3, Alen Antony Francis shares prep tips
Alen Antony Francis secured AIR 3 in CEED 2019. Know what prep strategy he adopted to crack the exam.
With a total score of 63.77, Alen Antony Francis topped the Common Entrance Examination for Design 2019 (CEED 2019). His section-wise scores in the exam include 45.8 in Part-A and 69.77 in Part-B.
Currently working as an UX designer intern at Cognicor Technologies, Alen loves sketching and doodling. He is also into music and sings as well as plays guitar with his bandmates in his free time. Apart from this, he also loves travelling and watching movies. His father is a businessman and mother is a lab technician at a hospital. He also has a younger sister who is into the field of design as well.
In future, Alen wishes to open a startup company. However, prior to that he wants to pursue MDes from the Industrial Design Centre (IDC) at IIT Bombay.
Shiksha got talking to Alen to know his prep strategy for the exam that lead him to become a CEED 2019 topper. Alen also elaborated on the important CEED topics that candidates should prepare to score well in the exam. Read the complete interview with Alen below.
Q. Congratulations for securing Rank 3 in CEED 2019! Did you expect to be the topper of CEED exam?
No, I never thought that I would even be qualified for CEED 2019.
Q. Can you tell us your preparation strategy that helped you crack CEED exam?
Going through previous years’ CEED question papers to understand the pattern and types of questions asked in the exam was my only strategy.
I am usually drawing something most of the time. So, I was able to draw at a quicker pace in the exam, as CEED is a race against time.
Q. Did you taking any coaching for the exam?
I had gone for a coaching last year, as I was appearing for CEED exam for the first time then. It helped me pick up sketching skills which were not used for a long time. This year, I prepared for CEED on my own.
Q. Are there any important topics to score well in the exam?
For Part-A, general knowledge of design is important. Especially the ones related to our country, the styles of different states etc. Spatial and analytical thinking type questions from Part-A of the exam are also important.
For Part-B, perspective drawing is quite important. Also, having an idea of typography, symmetry etc helps in the exam.
Q. What as per you are the mistakes one should avoid while preparing for the exam?
In CEED, time is the main enemy for everyone. I found timing myself for each question in the exam the most difficult part to manage. For me, it was about how I perform under pressure. Therefore, I suggest that you keep your mind calm and relaxed before the exam.
Q. What other design entrance exams did you take or are planning to take?
Apart from CEED, I also appeared for NID Entrance Exam.
Q. Was design always your first preference?
I came to know of design as a stream pretty late. I was always into drawing and kind of confused as to what I will do after completion of my engineering course. This design entrance exam came like a blessing to me.
Q. Any tips for students who are planning to take the exam next year?
Solve as many previous year CEED question papers as possible. Practice, practice and practice drawing and be fast paced at it. Otherwise, it will be difficult for you to manage time in the exam.
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Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 weeks ago
IIT Bombay offers an array of specialisations under its MDes programme. Listed below are the specialisations offered with the MDes programme:
- Animation Design
- Communication Design
- Industrial Design
- Interaction Design
- Mobility & Vehicle Design
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Candidates seeking admission to the Bachelor of Design (BDes) programme offered at IIT Bombay must apply for UCEED first, and then submit a duly filled application to the institute. To apply for BDes, follow the step-wise application process:
Step 1: Visit the official website of UCEED.
Step 2: Click
S
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
IIT Bombay offers MDes courses for two years in five specialisations i.e., Interaction Design (IN), Mobility and Vehicle Design (MD), Animation Design (AN), Communication Design (CD), and Industrial Design (ID). The scope after completing MDes from IIT Bombay is huge as it opens opportunities for va
S
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 4 weeks ago
Some of the top recruiters for M.Des. at the industrial Design Centre (IDC) of IIT Bombay include:
It includes companies like Google, Microsoft, Tata, Apple, etc.
The placement season has included firms from sectors such as : Engineering, IT, Software programming, Finance Banking, and Services.
In 202
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
Admission to IIT Bombay's MDes programme is based on the applicants' performance in CEED, followed by a written test and inteview conducted by the institute. Candidates who have a valid CEED score and fulfil the preset eligibility requirements can visit the institute's official website to submit an
H
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Placements at IDC IIT BOMBAY In Bachelor in Design are quite nice. They provide you with an internship but it depends on one's skills. Almost 80-90% of students have got the placements. The highest package offered in 2024 was INR 24 LPA and the average package was around INR 10 LPA. Some top compani
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
No, one can not join IDC IIT Bombay without qualifying UCEED for B.Des. The eligibility criteria for getting admission into the college is that one should have passed the qualifying examination (Class XII or equivalent ) from the recognised Board/Examination.
UCEED is an exam of 300 marks. It has 3 s
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
The cutoff ranks for admission to Industrial Design Centre IIT Bombay for the 2024-25 session have already been released. To check for the cutoff, you are advised to visit: IDC School of Design, Mumbai Placement - Average & Highest Salary Package, Placement Companies & Internships Details.
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Contributor-Level 9
Which are the MDes specialisations offered at IIT Bombay?